Gas lift valve



C. V. TEMPLE GAS LIFT VALVE Filed sept. 2, 1957 Si 'Illini/[lilium F163 INVENTOR. CLYDE V TEMPLE WATTORNEY.-

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' Patented Sept. 2, V1941 FFICE; 1.

Gas Lm vaLvn Clydev V. Temple, Tyler, Tex.,

Gulberson Corporation,

tion of Delaware asslgnor to The Dallas, Tex., a corpora- Application September- 2, 1937, Serial No. 162,114

' 12 claims. (ci. 10a-232) The object of this invention is mimpmve-and simplify the structure shown in my cca-pending application. Serial Number 104,613, led October 8, 1936 which application has now matured into Patent No. 2,204,834, issued June 18, 1940. In thesaid application, I showed a mechanism relating to that type o fde'vice for flowing liquids from wells customarily referred to as gas lifting devices, and more particularly I had reference to a mechanism whereby the admission of gas or' air to a column of liquid within-a well may be controlled.

The invention shown in the said Patent l2,204,834,1as Well as in the present application,

provides a valve for controlling the admission of gas or air to a column of liquid within a well in which a main valve for controlling said admission is controlled by a pilot valve mechanism. The

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the valves in position so that `air is excluded or prevented from going into the column of liquid. Fig. 3 is `an elevational cross-sectional view -showing the position of the valve'when there is no operative pressure -either in the casing or the tubing and also the position pf' the parts when the pressure in the tubinghassrisen to a point somewhat below the pressure :in the casing so that' thel air would pass into the column of iluid.

The'tubing l within the well casing 2 is provided with sections 3 havinga laterally extending member 4. It is of course understood that there will be as many lvalve mechanisms as there are sections 3. The laterally extending member 4 is internally screwthreaded atl E and the member 6 is screw threaded into the membert. The

'object of the pilot valve mechanism is to control the operation of the main valve so that the gas or air will not be admitted to the column of liquid within the Well until the column of liquid shall v have attained a predetermined pressure at the point where the valve issituated.

Another object of the invention is to provide controlled means for both the pilot valve and the main valve so that the aerating gas will be premember 6 is provided with a main valve seat I. A tubular section 8 is operatively connected with a top section V9 as well as with the member 6, and in the upper end of the top section 9 is received a thimble I0 through which passes a centrally disposed bore II, which at its lower end provides a pilot valve seat I 2.

The pilot valve member I 3 is tapered at its upper end forming'a valve and at its lower end vented from entering the column of fluid until the pressure of the fluid has increased to a predetermined point below the pressure of the gas. and when this pressure has beenA reached, the pilot valve will be actuated so as to release the main valve by relieving the pressure on one end of the main valve so that the said main valve will -be opened and the gas forced into the column of uid. Y viilnother object of the invention is tol provide means whereby the tension exerted on the pilot valve can be regulated.

Other objects andadvantages ofthe invention will become apparent from the following description taken in 'connection with the accompanying drawing, it being understood that such drawing v and description are by way of example and illus-A tration only and are not to be taken by way of limitation. I realize that many changes may be made in the form of the invention as shown in this application without departing from the spirit thereof, and I therefore reserve to myseli'the right to make all such changes as may fairly fall within' the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevational view -section showing in outline the" my m cross jgs tweenthe tubing and the well casing. The cham valves placed one abovethe other, I

is tapered forming a valve I5 which may engage the valve seat I8 forming a part of the main valve member 'I|.- The pilot valve member I3 extends into a bore I8 of the top section 9, which bore communicates with the central bore II of the thimble llli and also communicates with a pressure chamber I 9 within the upper part of the tubular section 8. The pilot valve member is screw threaded at 20, and a collar 2| and lock nut 22 are screw threaded onto said screw threads 20. The main valve member Il is provldedat its upper portion with a centrally disposed chamber 23 which communicates with the pressure chamber I9, and in fact forms a part thereof. Atthe lower end of the chamber 23 is a shoulder 2t. and a` spring 25 extends 'from the said shoulder to the collar 2|, which springserves as a means to urge the pilot valve upwardly as shown in the drawing so as todisengage the valve I5 from the valve seat I8 andto engage the valvell with the valve seat l2.

The main valve member Il is provided with a central bore 2l which communicates with the central chamber 3% and which also communicates at its lower end with a chamber 2l in the membenB. The chamber 2l has a laterally extending portdl which communicatesv with the space bcand a packer 40 is vtween the casing and `|3 than on the bottom ber 21 communicates bore 29 which extends to the lower member 6 and communicates with a chamber 31|,l

which in turn communicates with a laterally extending port 3| which extends through the tubing and communicates with the space within the tubing.

The lower end of provided with a valve the main valve seat the main valve member I1 is 32. which may be seated on 1 as shown in Fig. 2. but which may be raised from engagement therewith as shown in Fig. 3 by means of a spring 33, which at its lower end is seated on a shoulder 34 forming a part of the tubular section 3 and at its upper end underlies a shoulder 35 carried by an enlargement 36 at the upper end of the main valve member I1. 4

A shield 31 is carried by the section 3 and extends radially outwardly and overlies the upper end of the valve housing so that as the tubing string is pulled out of the well the valve mechanism would be shielded or protected in case it met any obstructions.

In operation the tubing string is inserted in the casing so as to communicatel with the space 38 adjacent perforations 39 in the oil stratum. placed above the perforations in the-space between the so that the pressure the packer would not be tubing and casing above communicated to the space 33 below the packer. The oil would therefore pass into the lower end of the tubing and would rise to whatever height to which it was forced by the natural pressure in.

the well. The sections 3 should be so spaced as to lie below the point tov which the oil would naturally be forced by the oil well pressures. When placed in the well, the valve mechanism would occupy` the pos'tion shown in Fig. 3. Any gas, such as air, would be forced into the well so as to create a pressure above the packer and betubing. As this air pressure is built up the air would pass through the port 28, into the chamber 21 and upwardly through the central bore 26 in the main valve member I1, and since the valve I5, as shown in Fig. 3, is open the air would pass into the chamber 23 so that there would tend to be the same pressure in the chamber 23 as there is outside the tubing. The air `in the chamber 21 would also move downwardly by the valve seat 1, into the bore 29, chamber 30 and port 3|, thereby relieving the pressure on the bottom of the main valve member Il. It therefore results that we have a higher pressure on the top of the pilot valve I3 than we have on the bottom thereof, for the reason that the bottom pressure has been reduced by the air passing into the tubing. There being a greater pressure on the top of the pilot valve thereof, the pilot valve is moved against the tension of the spring 25 so that the valve I5 seats on the valve seat IB. Since the valve I4 is now unseated from the valve seat I2 the casing pressure, that is the pressure between the casing and the tubing, passes downwardly through the central bore I| into the bore I8 and the pressure chamber I3 so that the main valve member I1 now has a greater pressureon its upper end than it has on the lower end, and the main valve member is therefore moved against the tension of the spring 33 into the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby bringing the valve 32 against its vseat 'I and preventing further air passing into the tubing. In other words, when the air pressure in the 'casing is built up to a point to overcome the tension of the springs, the

' Fig. 3 to that shown the casing will now parts will be moved from the position shown in in Fig. 2.

If the oil is now forced throughv the perforations 39 into the tubing so that it rises a considerable distance above the section 3 it creates a pressure induced by the height of the oil, which pressure is exerted through the port 3|, chamber 30, and bore 29, against the lower end of the main valve member. This pressure, when it becomes sufficiently great, will move the pilot valve from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, and the air trapped in the chamber I9 will then pass downwardly through the central chamber 23, central bore 30, and into the tubing through the port 3l thereby relieving or reducing the pressure in the pressure chamber I9, so that the spring 33 will move the main valve member I1 into the position shown in Fig. 3. The air under pressure in pass through the port 23, chamber 21, bore 29, chamber 30 and port 3| into the tubing, aerating the oil in the tubing. It will therefore be noted that I-have provided an automatic valve which is controlledby the differential in the pressures existing in the casing and in the tubing and is also controlled by the tension of the springs. It s also to be noted that itis the pilot valve that controls the operation of the main valve member.

As the oil is aerated and expelled, the pressure in the tubing will of course fallrand the reverse -of the above described operationswould take place, so that the parts would be moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in' Fig. 2. Ofcourse if the well were left standing indefinitely so that the air or gas pressures in the casing were greatly reduced, the parts would againassume the -positions shown in Fig. 3, and it is possible that some oil would bleed through the port 3| and eventually through the port 28 into the space between the tubing and the casing, but this would be immaterial, for when it was desired to operate the well again any such oil that had thus by-passed would be blown into the reverse order from which it entered the casing, so that therewould be no harmful results.

Having now described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a flow line positioned in a well, a gas lift pumping device, including a pressure operated main valve member to open or close a passageway leading into the ow line for controlling the admission of gas into the iiow line, a spring tending to open said main valve member, said main valve member being provided with a shoulder and a longitudinally extending vent opening into the passageway, a pilot valve seated on said shoulder and controlling the gas pressure acting on said main valve member, and spring means seated on said shoulder and tending to move the pilot valve away from said main valve member so` as to open said vent to release gas trapped between the main and pilot valves.

2. In combination with a flow line positioned in 26, bore 29, chamber4 3. In combination with a now line positioned in a Well, a gas lift pumping device, including a pressure operated main valve membertoA open or close a passageway leading into the liow line for controlling the admission of gas into the iiow line and provided with a valve seat and a vent opening into the passageway and extending through the main valve member, a pilot valve movable by a diierential in pressure in the flow line-and outside thereof so as to engage the said valve seat and close said vent or to disengage the said valve seat and open said vent, and means tending to move said pilot valve away from said seat so as to open said vent and release gas trapped between said main and pilot valves.

4.l In combination with a ow line positioned in a well, including a vpressure operated main valve member provided with a valve at one end to open or close a passageway leading into the ow line for controlling the admission of gas into the Iiow line and a valve seat in a chamber atthe other end, said main valve having ay longitudinally extending vent opening into the passageway, a pilot valve extending into said chamber andV adapted to be engaged by or disengaged lfrom said valve seat so as to open or close said vent depending on diiierentials of pressures in the iiow li'ne and outside thereof exerted on the opposite surfaces of the pilot valve, and means constantly urging said main valve member so as to open its valve.

- 5. In combination with a new une positioned in a well, a gas lift pumping. device, including a j pressure operated main valve member to open .0r close a passageway leading 'into the now line for controlling the admission of gas into the ilow line and provided with a chamber and a vent opening into the passageway, and a pilot valve extending into said chamber and adapted to open or close said vent to control the pressure acting on said main valve member.

6.- In combination with a ilow line positioned in a well, a gas lift pumping device, including a pressure actuated main valve member to open or close a passageway leading into the ow line for controlling the admission of gas into the flow line, and a pilot valve for controlling the pressure acting on said main valve member to actuate the same, said pilot valve being exposed to the variv ations in pressure in said ilow line depending on the varying height of the oil therein and being partly housed within the said main valve mem-A ber so as to make a compact structure.

7. In combination with a flow line positioned in a well. including a housing, a pressure operated main valve member to open or close a passa'geway leading into the ilow line for controlling Y j the admission of gas into the tlow line and a pilot valve `member extending longitudinally of said housing, Said-pilot valve member-extending partly withinv said main valve member so as to make a t structure, said pilot valve member'conim the pressure acting on said main valve o member.

s. rn combination wiin .o sow une positioned in a'well.- including va pressure actuated mitin,- valve membertoopen or close apassaseway leadsion of gas into the ow line, a pilot valve for valve to actuate the same, said pilot valve being exposed to the variations in differential between the pressure of gas to. be admitted into said now line and the pressure within the ow line itself, said pilot valve member being partly within said main valve member so as to make a compact structure.

9. In combinationwith a ilow line positioned in a.we1l, a gas lift pumping device, including a pressureoperated main valve member to open or close a passageway leading into the dow line for controlling the admission o f gas into the ow line, a valve seat carried by said main valve memberand a vent opening into the passagewayand extending longitudinally through the main valve member, a pilot valve coacting with said valve seat for controlling the pressure acting on the main valve member, and spring means urging said pilot valve away from said valve seat so as to open said vent to release gas trapped between in a well, a gas lift pumping device, including a main valve member to open or close a passageway -leading into the iiow line .for controlling the admission of gas into the iiow line, a` valve seat carned by said main valve member and a ven't opening into the passageway and extending longitudinally through the same, a pilot valve coacting with said valve seat for controllingthe pressure acting on the main valve member, spring means 'urging said pilot valve away from said valve seat so as to open said vent to release gas trapped between the main and pilot valves. and means to adjust the tension of said spring.

l1. In combination with a ow line positioned in a well.` a'gas lift pumping device including a pressure actuated main valve to open or close a passageway leading-into the ow line for controlling the admission of gas into the iiow line, a

-main valve so as to make a compact structure. Y

12. In combination with a dow line .positioned in a well, a gas lift pumping device including a housing. a main valve member-having a valve to open or close a passageway leading into the dow line to control the admissionof gas into the now line. means tending to open said valve, said valve member being provided with a longitudinally exn tending bore opening into 'said passageway and extending throughout the length of the main valve membenashoulder on said valve member adjacent the intermediate part of said bore, a pilot valve partly within said bore so as to extend to or adJacent to said shoulder, a valve seat carried by said housing `and communicating with said bore and a valve seat at said shoulder on the ing into the ilow line for controlling the adm ls- `bythe housing.- l

urgesaid pilot valve away from the valve vseat at the shoulder andtoward the valve seat carried i otros vrmra. 

